8 Times The Eraserheads Reminded Us Of The Beatles | Lifestyle | FHM.com.ph

The number of members isn’t the only similarity between the two legendary bands

Think back to last band profile you’ve read. Focus and recall the part where the band rattles off their musical influences. A few will say Queen or The Who, there will be those who’ll cite Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath, and some will mention Rolling Stones not only because of their countless hits and durability, but also their long-lasting power to still bring new babies to the world. But there’s only one group that will get more citations than any other band in the world—The Beatles.

Their influence has spread from their own little bunker in Liverpool to as far as the Philippine music scene. The Fab Four have had an undeniable impact on OPM’s sound, seen in more than a handful of bands—from the blatantly obvious The Bloomfields, to the more subdued adaptation that was Orange and Lemons. But if we’re talking about which band has channeled The Beatles in seemingly every way possible, it would have to be the Eraserheads.

The similarities between the two are endless: a legendary songwriting tandem, an unceremonious disbanding, and, of course, a legacy of musical greatness that will be hard to match. And on the heels of the release of The Beatles: Eight Days A Week—The Touring Years, a Ron Howard-directed documentary that includes never-before-seen footage of the mop-topped quartet and exclusive interviews with Paul McCartney andRingo Starr, we list down the 8 Eheads songs that reminds us of The Beatles.

1) ‘Hey Jay’ x ‘Hey Jude’

Aside from the obvious similarity between the song titles and being some of the best material written during their respective generations, both tracks actually share the same theme—friendship. Both friends apparently have monosyllabic names that start with a J, telling them that “everything’s gonna be OK” and to “take a sad song and make it better.”

2) ‘Alapaap’ x ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’

Another thing that the two iconic bands share is musical controversy. Tito Sotto infamously tried to ban “Alapaap” from playing on the radio because he believed it alluded to drug use. On the flip side, people believed that “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” represented LSD use. Both groups had categorically denied that their songs were about illegal substance, with the former being about freedom and the latter taking inspiration from Alice in Wonderland.

3) ‘Toyang’ x ‘Silly Love Songs’

While “Toyang” is more famously known for the intro reference to Nat King Cole’s 1951 song, “Too Young,” people might miss a reference to a post-Beatles Paul McCartney (and The Wings) track called “Silly Love Songs.” Listen to Toyang’s reggae break and compare it to the 3:12 mark of The Wings’ song and hear the unmistakable resemblance.

4) ‘Minsan’ x ‘In My Life’

One song is about college life and the friendships forged there, while the other is about an old flame, but both perfectly capture the feeling of nostalgia. These tracks do it so well that, depending on your generation, most reunion videos will feature at least one of the two. It’s a testament to how well both bands do something that only a few ever achieve—encapsulate genuine human emotions, integrate a relatable experience, and distill all of them into a memorable song.

5) ‘Para sa Masa’ x ‘Let It Be’

Pianos are usually reserved for ballads or classical music. And in the world of guitar-powered rock ‘n’ roll or pop rock, we rarely ever see the said instrument dominate the action. So when the Eheads released their piano-driven anthem, “Para sa Masa,” our minds immediately referred to the Beatles’ “Let it Be.” About two completely different things, either songs wouldn’t have worked with anything than a gut-wrenching keyboard track, proving that both bands have the skill and restraint in choosing the best way to convey a message to patrons.

6) ‘American Gurl’ x ‘My Sweet Lord’

Of course, Lennon and Buendia had successful careers after their respective groups split up; the same about McCartney and Marasigan. What’s quite rare is ALL members remaining active and respected in the industry through the years. Ringo Starr and George Harrison have both released solo albums, with the latter responsible for the 1971 international chart-topper “My Sweet Lord.” On the other side of the spectrum, Marcus Adoro founded Markus Highway, churning out original, sometimes off-kilter, singles such as “American Gurl,” and Buddy Zabala joined another legendary OPM band in The Dawn, while producing albums for the likes of Itchyworms, Moonstar88, 6CycleMind, and Imago.

7) ‘Bogchi Hokbu’ x ‘Come Together’

You know you’re an awesome band when you can turn complete gibberish into an amazing song. With mumble-jumbled Filipino words on one track and made-up English phrases like joo-joo eyeball and toe-jam football on the other, “Bogchi Hokbu” and “Come Together” demonstrate Buendia and Lennon’s songwriting prowess and both groups’ ability to create something wonderful out of nothing.

8) ‘Run Barbi Run’ x ‘A Hard Day’s Night’

At the height of their fame, it seemed as if the Eraserheads and The Beatles could do anything that they wanted. Apparently, one of those things was to star in their very own movie. Run Barbi Run and A Hard Day’s Night were the cinematic debuts of the ‘Heads and the Fab Four, respectively. Both were comedies, actual song titles, and actually entertaining to watch.